I’ve posted a ton of times about Animal Friends and how they’re doing a fantastic job rescuing all these animals in Kuwait. The last time I posted about them was when they rescued the bear and it seems with that rescue they’ve gone and restructured and created a new organization. Animal Friends is now a subsidiary of Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat or in short, K’S PATH.
Animal Friends have been doing a lot more than they had originally set out to do which was rescuing dogs and cats so they’ve decided to clarify their programs and goals. Animal Friends League of Kuwait will continue as normal, rescuing animals, providing shelter, and making adoptions. All other issues, like farm animals, exotic animals, marine life and more will be handled by K’S PATH.
The video above is their introductory video of their previous activities. They’ve also set up a new website at kspath.org. They are still a non-profit organization that runs on donations so please help them out by clicking [Here]
43 replies on “Animal Friends has restructured”
Hats off to them for doing a great job!
i was a volunteer there for like 3 months, i drove down to wafra every week to help out, and i hav to say, they are doing an amazing job, Animals in kuwait are treated like shit, and as far as i see, they are the ONLY ones who actually help. P.a.w.s are just USELESS, every time i call them for help, they never answer, OR get back to me!.
Aisha & john, (they run animal friends) Keep it up. u guys r doing an amazing job
i love this song
in the sun – joseph arthur
It’s sad that I when I emailed them a while back about some poor stray dogs they didn’t take the time to contact me or even email me back. Very sad when that’s their job.
Yousef you found a poor stray dog and instead of acting urgently and picking up the phone and calling for help you took your time and leisurely sent them an email? Its like emailing the cops for help when you are getting robbed.
I’m sorry Mark but you should ask more about the situation before commenting like that. The dogs used to come and go in front of our offices, and I posted a comment a while ago on your blog asking how I can find help, in which you recommended their website. I called but no one got back to me, so I sent them an email, plus when I emailed them the dogs weren’t actually in front of my office. I thought I might as well get a in contact with a person just in case I saw them roaming around again. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard from them or got a call back, as I posted my number in the email. This might have been a few months ago. What’s even sadder is that I haven’t seen the dogs since that email and I hope they have been helped by someone else. Ask before jumping to conclusions.
I didn’t jump to any conclusions I was responding to your comment in which you stated you emailed for help when you found some stray dogs. Next time you should be clear.
both of u just listen to the song and calm down :p
ob and mark a new episode of true blood comes out!
I’m sure you were Mark. You need to calm down and listen to rossoneri91’s song. 🙂
everyone reading this should lol its a good song
felt really sorry for the animal at 1:45! Its a Chinchilla! These animals require huge cages for them to jump around in, otherwise they’ll get depressed and die. Seems like the one in the video isn’t exactly happy in that small cage!
are they aware of the many CRUEL dog fights at marina? the garden and beach besides crescent, people get their pit bulls and german shepherds, make them drink something and they fight in huge crowds, its awfually sad how people can be SO heartless. they watch their own pets die, and do all of this just for fun!
I was walking with my dog yesterday at Marina Crescent then I found a lost dog there trying to find anyone to play with, the dog was very sick, tired, hungry and liquid saliva coming out from his mouth because of his empty stomach, and no collar on his neck, I offered him water, food and I took him to the Vet, got 3 shots there (Antivirus & Vitamins) .. and now he is here at my home, I called Animal Friends but I am not sure that I am gonna leave that guy. I am keeping him with me.
But I dont know whats wrong with these dogs owners?
If you cant take care of you dog, just dont get one, it is not a toy for your kids and it is not a security guard.
People should get some training and courses about dogs before buying or adopting.
Thats what we need from Animal friends .. more information and promotions
Thanks
Ostriches? Ostriches! Freaking Ostriches in Kuwait!? Are they even native? Frankly the government should ban all exotic animals, while only keeping a few for educational/recreational reasons (Read: Zoo or Museum)
Ramez God bless you for what you did. Keep the dog as your pet 🙂
he is sleeping right now 🙂
and I will take him to the vet again to check everything, vaccination and opening a file for him … I loved him a lot 🙂
Yousef, did you ever consider that they were responding to or attending to some other person’s request that may have been more urgent. This agency is run by a few people. Things happen, things get missed inadvertantly.
Lets clarify something…They do this because they are passionate to help animals… they volunteer their help, and no its NOT their job. It’s all our jobs.
Each of us has a responsibility – a test from God, if you will – of deciding what is right and what is wrong and acting appropriately; whether it is coming do the defense of a woman who is being hit by a man; whether it is a child in need; or whether it is a defenseless animal. When God sends you a message, are you going to act or pass it by?
hope they help that cheetah that was found in Hateen … police men freaked when they saw it 😛
Aisha and John, you two are doing a tremendously great job saving innnocent lives that the Kuwaities (in general, not everyone) destroy. From what I hear from Aisha’s brother, you guys saved monkeys, bears, and other animals that shouldn’t belong in Kuwait. You guys are like the animal protection agency we lack and desperately need. Someone up there will be really pleased.
Wow they are doing an excellent job, I hope people in Kuwait start volunteering over there!
Peace
A few days ago , my friend rescued a dog tied to a pole near his house and he called the ” animal rescue team ” to arrange for a pick up. The team asked him if he could drive to wafra and drop the dog off !!!! what kind of a rescue operation is that !!!!
In addition , last year i called them complaining about my neighbours who ill treated their dog and her pups and left them out in balcony during the HOT summer months of 50degrees plus all night long !the poor pups kept drying all night and scratching the door !
all animal rescue had to say was ” thats ok .. dogs can survive in the heat !!! ”
That isnt right ! COME ON!!!!
Seven, they are a non profit organization so they have limited resources. I once dropped off 3 puppies which we rescued to Animal Friends because they couldn’t pick them up.
https://248am.com/mark/kuwait/three-puppies-rescued/
Someone in the forum once needed a ride to drop a rescued puppy and he got a lot of offers from people willing to help out
https://forum.mark248am1.wpenginepowered.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9265
Its a group effort, sometimes they need your help but in the end its all about rescuing the dogs.
https://248am.com/mark/kuwait/an-amazing-rescue/
Once I couldn’t drive all the way to Wafra so I put the dog up at the IVH boarding for the night until next morning when Animal Friends could pick him up
https://248am.com/mark/kuwait/grumpy-the-dog/
We all need to do our part.
Hats of to the organization. People can be so inhumane its disturbing. Please let us know how we can help. I’m sure there are many out there that would like to lend a hand but do now know when and where. Thanks.
As Mark mentioned its non profit organization, and when it comes to charity, you should do your part and they will do rest, is hard to drive to Wafra ? thats the only thing you will do, And they will: arrange for a place, vaccination, medical equipments, grooming, feeding and a lot.
so guys stop whining
the toughest part which they do , is to find newer homes for the pets. They even bear the cost of shipping the pets to international adopters.
You should write about PAWS. its another animal rights association in Kuwait i believe.
The day PAWS picks up the phone when I need them I will post about them. So far I’ve tried contacting nearly a dozen times and no one ever picks up or calls back
So what happens with the increasing dog [population]..! they should have hundreds of dogs by now..!
They get adopted or sent to the US. Here is an article:
https://animalfriendskuwait.org/articledetails.asp?fid=1651065631
“Whichever dogs have been in the shelter the longest are sent as accompanied baggage on flights headed to various cities in the U.S. When they arrive, most dogs are adopted within the first week, because Kuwait dogs are so wonderful.”
with all that oil revenue, can’t the government be civil enough to create a specialized organization for this. instead of………………………………….
seriously PAWS are not picking up the phone, I was about to adopt a puppy, I picked him and I filled the adoption form and sent it to them many times, They replied after 10 days with few questions mail, then I didnt see anything from them
What a moving video – Animal Friends is doing a great job… I’ve been to their shelter and am really impressed with their facility.
Keep it up Ayesha, John, Steph, Karen, Raju, and all the rest of the crew!
-Abeer
@Exile
It is not the government’s job and oil revenue has nothing to do with it
People have to develop compassion and a conscious awareness
Mark & Nat,
Thank you ever so much for such great exposure of AFL! We so need to get the word out there! Education is the key! Just to let all yoru bloggers know, 10 more dogs has jsut left for the states to their new homes! Wonderful!
~Karen of AFL~
I lived in Kuwait for 2 years, and fostered cats for AFL for the whole time I was there. It’s ALL volunteer and donations, trust me. Aysha started it from scratch, with not much more than a compassionate heart!!! It has grown and grown, and they now have a lovely facility, where the dogs and cats (and when I was out there, donkeys!) all have a MUCH better life than they would EVER have had on the streets. The problem is that there are SOOOOOOO many abandoned and abused animals in Kuwait.
One of the kittens I fostered was rescued by a Kuwaiti man, who doesn’t even LIKE cats, but couldn’t stand to watch some kids using it for a football!!! (The kitten was probably less than 6 weeks old at the time!) Another was about to be “exterminated” out at the army base. I had a mother and 2 newborn kittens for awhile. The kittens were later adopted out, but after 6 months, were returned to the shelter. The woman was pregnant, and her Dr. told her to get rid of the cats as they were dangerous to a pregnant woman?!?! She believed the Dr. and returned the cats, that she’d had for 6 months!!! How do you fight that kind of attitude?
I helped another AFL volunteer (Amelia) rescue a number of stray dogs. She ALWAYS drove around with dog food, water, a spare collar and leash, and blankets in her vehicle, JUST for that purpose!
When I went back to Canada after my first year in Kuwait, I took 3 dogs back with me. At the airport I was greeted by no less than 10 airport officials, at various places, as “The wonderful lady with the rescue dogs from Kuwait.” Believe me, I was NOT the wonderful one. All I did was take them on as extra baggage.
The wonderful ladies were Karen and Amelia at AFL, and the woman (whose name I forget, sorry) who picked them up when we arrived in Vancouver. And I have to mention Steph and Bruce, who are the “cat” people that kept me supplied with cats and kittens, all in need of a home and some unconditional love. They are ALL wonderful people!
They have done, and continue to do, an AMAZING job, for tireless hours, in an often unthankful society, with a lot of sweat, a lot of love, and not a lot of money. Anybody still IN Kuwait, please check them out. They are a small organization with a big heart, and honestly, can use all the help they can get, be it in volunteer hours, donations of money, dog/cat food, blankets, towels. They are worth your effort, believe me!!!
Anita
Sorry, forgot to add . . . AFL DO promote education about animals. They do trips to schools. I know Amelia did some while she was in Kuwait, and Karen recently did one. They have built a nice large room in the shelter specifically FOR education purposes. But, again, this requires volunteer hours. Someone to organize the groups to come to the shelter, someone to organize what and how to teach, or someone to contact the shelter to ASK for someone to come out to a location to teach. It’s all about the volunteers, my friends. It’s all about the volunteers.
Not an easy video to watch, if you have a heart for animals. Bless Aisha and John and the work they have chosen. It isn’t easy work, and they are always next to broke. Bless you, Mark, for putting together the video for them, it is poignant.
Hello,
Just wanted to offer a very big thanks for all of your support, make a couple of requests, and offer a couple of points of clarification.
We are rapidly expanding and have several new programs coming online this year. We need help.
On the docket for this year:
1. Missing pet program. We need a volunteer(s) to get spaces on all available public notice boards and websites so that when someone’s pet goes missing we can act swiftly to find it.
2. Friday Market. Our recent success with the bear shows that if a problem is properly documented and evidence gathered, existing laws can be used confiscate an animal. Public awareness can also be used to influence the police. We have ideas based upon knowledge and experience. We need volunteers, especially Kuwaiti volunteers. All are welcome.
3. Investigation and documentation of farm animal conditions. This is a religious as well as a human health issue, besides being an animal welfare issue effecting millions of animals per year. We especially need Kuwaiti volunteers for this issue, but again, all are welcome.
4. Marine conservation. Kuwait’s marine ecosystem is being depleted beyond repair. Fish catches have dropped 80% in the last five years. The rate of pollution and the introduction of 300million gallons of super-salty heated water per day into the ocean are taking their toll. We are trying to curb these trends by operating a dive and cleanup team, promoting awareness, and lobbying the government to protect the marine ecosystem.
5. Animal friends is hiring. The position of shelter manager is opening at the end of July and we have been considering applicants for the past week.
6. MENAW. Animal Friends is hosting the next Middle East Network for Animal Welfare conference in March. We are currently fund raising and planning. We could use some help organizing the conference.
7. Sheltering. We always need donations and volunteers to run our shelter. Our cost averages 5,000kd per month. We currently have 55 dogs, 60 cats, two donkeys (one is pregnant), three baboons, two tortoises, six rabbits, a ferret, four turtles, five hamsters, and two chipmunks.
8. Fundraising. Our fund raising committee is always busy. This group meets in the city and runs events in the city. It’s an attractive option for many who find the drive to our Wafra shelter a little too distracting. At the same time, this is one of our most important initiatives.
9. Education. We are looking for people of every nationality who are willing to go into grade schools to run simple classes on humane education. An AFL volunteer will accompany you with a live animal for the presentations.
10. Wildlife. As you’ve seen with our recent bear investigation, we are trying to address the issue of wildlife smuggling. To do this, we need investigators as well as volunteers to help plan and develop our unique sanctuary concept.
Finally, just to clarify a few things. We always try to accept rescued animals somewhere in the city. Where that is not possible, we ask the rescuer to drive to Wafra. We apologize for the inconvenience, but it is unavoidable. If you wish to abandon your animal, you will be required to drive the animal to Wafra. As for street rescues, we have very few volunteers who are able to safely perform street rescues of wild dogs. If the animal is a stray pet animal, we can send one of our volunteers if they are available. Roaming dogs in Kuwait are potentially dangerous and difficult to catch. Catching them often leaves no options for the animal as they cannot be pets or humanely housed in a shelter. We appreciate all reports of stray animals. However, we prioritize in the following order:
1. Animals which are actively being beaten, burned, buried, poisoned, shot, are being run over, or are otherwise actively in pain.
2. Animals which are not wild but are lost or abandoned pets.
3. Animals which are living in cages or are tied, chained, or otherwise have their mobility limited without adequate shade, water, food, and human affection.
4. Animals which are living in medians or near major roads and are otherwise at high risk of being hit or poisoned.
5. Litters of puppies or kittens
6. wild packs of stray dogs
7. We do not rescue or accept streets cats who are reasonably healthy.
We get roughly 100 calls per week related to animals that deserve to be rescued. We have created the list above to help us filter the phone calls and determine which animals need to be rescued first. If you called and we were not able to assist you and your situation, we genuinely apologize. If you called, and we failed to address your situation or adequately explain why we cannot help your situation, it was a genuine mistake. We try to answer the phone every time (during normal hours) and call back any missed calls. We can’t do everything, but we’re confident we do as much as we can.
Thanks for your support. K’S PATH is having some email trouble, so please email [email protected] to inquire about anything related to animals. Ayeshah and I are out of the country relaxing until the end of July. Animal Friends still functions quite well with us gone, so please don’t hesitate to call or write. 6700-1622.
Thanks.
John
lets be there on Friday for helping em in sorting the new store over there
on a lighter note .. check out the photo of the camel on the front page of the K’s site HILARIOUS!